Book'em Danno Seeks More Saratoga Success in Forego

Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno may be from New Jersey, but he has turned Saratoga Race Course into his preferred summer home. He looks to defend that home Aug. 23 as the clear 8-5 morning-line favorite in the $500,000 Forego Stakes (G1). Trained by Derek Ryan, the son of Bucchero is 3-for-4 at the Spa while never finishing off the board. Two of those wins have come this year, with back-to-back wins in the 6 1/2-furlong True North Stakes (G3) on a sloppy track June 7 and the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G2) on a fast track July 19. The 4-year-old gelding has proved himself as one of the nation's finest sprinters with nine wins in 15 lifetime starts, holding a 3-1-1 record from six starts at Saturday's seven-furlong distance. However, a victory could allow him to test that talent around two turns as the race awards an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1 through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. That invitation would be desirable to the pair of Brad Cox-trained entrants, Most Wanted and Bishops Bay, as they cut back from that distance. Gary and Mary West's homebred Most Wanted proved an easy four-length winner at the one-mile distance when receiving class relief in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer June 1. Holding good company prior, that race followed three consecutive runner-up finishes by less than two lengths to the likes of Fierceness, Skippylongstocking, and Rattle N Roll. A grade 3-winning son of Candy Ride (ARG), Most Wanted's lone start at seven furlongs was a maiden victory on debut. Bishops Bay has never raced at seven furlongs, but has been a top performer throughout his career. Never out of the exacta in 10 starts, the Uncle Mo 5-year-old rides a four-race win streak and exits wins in the Westchester Stakes (G3) and Salvator Mile Stakes (G3). Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount for the first time for Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm. WinStar Farm is also represented solely by Mullikin, who won this race in front-running style by 5 3/4 lengths last year for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Another consistent performer who has hit the board in 12 of 14 starts, he exits runner-up finishes to Book'em Danno in both the True North and Vanderbilt. Third in the True North was Carter Stakes (G2) winner Crazy Mason, who returns from a West Coast trip last month where he was sixth in Del Mar's Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) for trainer Gregory Sacco and owners Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. The 11-horse race also features several longshot prospects in good form. Full Moon Madness, Over and Ollie, Hold My Bourbon, and Doc Sullivan all hold odds of 20-1 or higher on the morning line, but exit victories in allowance or black-type stakes company. Also adding intrigue is stakes winner Scotland making his second start of the year and grade 3 winner Extra Anejo, who comes in off a near two-month layoff since finishing third in the Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs.